Foldable electronic device including structure for reducing damage of hinge

Abstract

According to an embodiment, a multi-foldable electronic device may include a housing including a first housing part, a second housing part, and a third housing part. The multi-foldable electronic device may further include a first hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first housing part and the second housing part, and a second hinge assembly rotatably coupling the second housing part and the third housing part. The second housing part and the third housing part may be spaced apart from each other in an unfolded state of the multi-foldable electronic device. The multi-foldable electronic device may further include a stopper between the second housing part and the third housing part to support the second housing part and the third housing part in the unfolded state of the multi-foldable electronic device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-foldable electronic device comprising:
 a housing comprising a first housing part, a second housing part, and a third housing part;   a first hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first housing part and the second housing part;   a second hinge assembly rotatably coupling the second housing part and the third housing part, the second hinge assembly comprising a sliding member comprising a first sink arm and a second sink arm, the sliding member configured to be slid in accordance with linkage between:
 spiral surfaces of the first sink arm and the second sink arm, and 
 rotation of the third housing part and the second housing part with respect to each other; and 
   a stopper coupled to the sliding member, the stopper configured move in accordance with the rotation of the third housing part with respect to the second housing part,   wherein the stopper is configured to support the second housing part and the third housing part in an unfolded state of the multi-foldable electronic device by the stopper being between the second housing part and the third housing part.   
     
     
         2 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first hinge cover covering a portion of the first hinge assembly; and 
 a second hinge cover covering a portion of the second hinge assembly, wherein the second hinge cover is wider than the first hinge cover, 
 wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are configured to contact each other before the first hinge cover contacts the first housing part and the second housing part, and 
 wherein the second housing part and the third housing part are configured to contact the stopper before the second hinge cover contacts the second housing part and the third housing part. 
 
     
     
         3 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the second hinge cover includes a through hole that accommodates the stopper, and   wherein the stopper is configured to:
 protrude from an outer surface of the second hinge cover through the through hole such as to contact with the second housing part and the third housing part in the unfolded state of the multi-foldable electronic device; and 
 be in the through hole such as to form a continuous surface together with the outer surface of the second hinge cover in a multi-folded state of the multi-foldable electronic device. 
   
     
     
         4 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the second hinge cover further comprises a guide rail that is configured to guide a position of the stopper, wherein the guide rail protrudes from an inner surface of the through hole, and   wherein the stopper comprises a guide groove slidably coupled to the guide rail such that the stopper is configured to be moved in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the second hinge cover.   
     
     
         5 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the sliding member comprises:
 a first portion coupled to the stopper;   a second portion that comprises the first sink arm and the second sink arm, wherein the second portion is configured to move in accordance with the rotation of the third housing part with respect to the second housing part; and   a third portion extending from the first portion to the second portion, wherein the third portion is configured to provide a driving force to the first portion, via the second portion, such as to move the stopper.   
     
     
         6 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the stopper includes a guide hole,   wherein the first portion includes a coupling hole, and   wherein the multi-foldable electronic device further comprises a coupling pin penetrating the guide hole and the coupling hole such that the first portion is slidably coupled to the stopper.   
     
     
         7 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 5 ,
 wherein the second hinge assembly comprises a hinge bracket including a guide recess, and   wherein the guide recess accommodates the third portion of the sliding member and is configured to guide movement of the third portion in a third direction and a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, the third direction and the fourth direction being longitudinal directions of the third portion.   
     
     
         8 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the second hinge assembly further comprises a fastening cover coupled to the hinge bracket, the fastening cover configured to prevent the third portion from being separated from the guide recess.   
     
     
         9 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 7 , wherein the third portion comprises:
 a first shaft portion; and   a second shaft portion spaced apart from the first shaft portion,   wherein the guide recess includes:
 a first recess accommodating the first shaft portion; and 
 a second recess accommodating the second shaft portion, and 
   wherein the hinge bracket further comprises a protrusion that separates the first recess from the second recess, the protrusion being between the first shaft portion and the second shaft portion.   
     
     
         10 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 5 , wherein the second hinge assembly comprises:
 a first hinge plate coupled to the second housing part; and   a second hinge plate coupled to the third housing part,   wherein the second housing part comprises a first plate that is coupled to the first hinge plate, the first plate configured to rotate together with the first hinge plate and comprising a first spiral portion,   wherein the third housing part comprises a second plate that is coupled to the second hinge plate, the second plate configured to rotate together with the second hinge plate and comprising a second spiral portion, and   wherein the first sink arm is slidably coupled to the first spiral portion and comprises a first spiral shape corresponding to the first spiral portion, the first spiral shape configured to provide axial movement of the third portion through rotation of the first plate; and   wherein the second sink arm is slidably coupled to the second spiral portion and comprises a second spiral shape corresponding to the second spiral portion, the second spiral shape configured to provide axial movement of the third portion through rotation of the second plate.   
     
     
         11 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first hinge cover covering a portion of the first hinge assembly, wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are configured to cover the first hinge cover while the first housing part and the second housing part are contacting each other in the unfolded state of the multi-foldable electronic device; and   a second hinge cover that is wider than the first hinge cover, wherein the second hinge cover covers a portion of the second hinge assembly, and the second hinge cover comprises a vertical surface, a horizontal surface perpendicular to the vertical surface, and a curved surface extending from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface, and   wherein the second hinge cover includes a through hole that is configured to expose a portion of the stopper to an outside of the multi-foldable electronic device, wherein the through hole is in a portion of the vertical surface, a portion of the horizontal surface, and a portion of the curved surface.   
     
     
         12 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the stopper is configured to contact a lateral surface of the second housing part and a lateral surface of the third housing part in the unfolded state of the multi-foldable electronic device, and   wherein the lateral surface of the third housing part is configured to face the lateral surface of the second housing part in the unfolded state.   
     
     
         13 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the second hinge assembly comprises:
 a first hinge plate coupled to the second housing part; and   a second hinge plate coupled to the third housing part,   wherein the second housing part comprises a first plate coupled to the first hinge plate, the first plate configured to rotate together with the first hinge plate, and the first plate comprising a first engagement protrusion,   wherein the third housing part comprises a second plate coupled to the second hinge plate, the second plate configured to rotate together with the second hinge plate, and the second plate comprising a second engagement protrusion, and   wherein the multi-foldable electronic device further comprises a guiding member comprising:
 a first engagement portion comprising a third engagement protrusion that is configured to engage with the first engagement protrusion of the first plate; 
 a second engagement portion comprising a fourth engagement protrusion that is configured to be engaged with the second engagement protrusion of the second plate; and 
   a connecting portion extending from the first engagement portion to the second engagement portion.   
     
     
         14 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 13  further comprising:
 a first elastic member configured to elastically support the first engagement portion such as to engage the third engagement protrusion with the first engagement protrusion; and 
 a second elastic member configured to elastically support the second engagement portion such as to engage the fourth engagement protrusion with the second engagement protrusion. 
 
     
     
         15 . The multi-foldable electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible display coupled to the housing, the flexible display comprising:
 a first foldable portion configured to be folded by the first hinge assembly as a part of a multi-folded state of the multi-foldable electronic device; and 
   a second foldable portion that is wider than the first foldable portion, the second foldable portion configured to be folded by the second hinge assembly as a part of the multi-folded state of the multi-foldable electronic device.   
     
     
         16 . A foldable electronic device comprising:
 a housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part;   a hinge assembly rotatably coupling the first housing part and the second housing part, wherein the first housing part and the second housing part are configured to be spaced apart from each other in an unfolded state of the foldable electronic device;   a hinge cover covering a portion of the hinge assembly, the hinge cover including a through hole; and   a stopper, slidably coupled to the through hole, the stopper configured to protrude from an outer surface of the hinge cover through the through hole such as to support the first housing part and the second housing part in the unfolded state of the foldable electronic device.   
     
     
         17 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the stopper is configured to form a continuous surface together with the outer surface of the hinge cover in a folded state of the foldable electronic device.   
     
     
         18 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the hinge cover further comprises a guide rail that is configured to guide a position of the stopper, the guide rail protruding from an inner surface of the through hole, and   wherein the stopper includes a guide groove that is slidably coupled to the guide rail such that the stopper is configured to be moved in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction with respect to the hinge cover.   
     
     
         19 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 16  further comprising:
 a sliding member comprising:
 a first portion coupled to the stopper; 
 a second portion configured to be slid by rotation of the second housing part with respect to the first housing part; and 
 a third portion extending from the first portion to the second portion, the third portion configured to provide a driving force to the first portion, via the second portion, such as to move the stopper. 
 
 
     
     
         20 . The foldable electronic device of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the hinge cover comprises a vertical surface, a horizontal surface perpendicular to the vertical surface, and a curved surface extending from the vertical surface to the horizontal surface,   wherein the through hole is in a portion of the vertical surface, a portion of the horizontal surface, and a portion of the curved surface, and   wherein the stopper is configured to contact a lateral surface of the first housing part and a lateral surface of the second housing part in the unfolded state of the foldable electronic device, and   wherein the lateral surface of the second housing part is configured to face the lateral surface of the first housing part in the unfolded state.